Next stage of Norfolk's ambitious climate plan revealed

Actions to support low carbon transport, climate adaptation, and decarbonisation of local business and industry will be discussed by councillors at next week's meeting of the Infrastructure and Development Select Committee. 

The actions cover a range of initiatives, including: 

• A pilot to develop a sustainable and viable seaweed industry in Norfolk - the project will work with partners in the Netherlands, already implementing sea farms
• Supporting the development of nature-based solutions to help secure Norfolk's long term water resilience
• Further walking and cycling improvements in places including King's Lynn, Norwich, Great Yarmouth, and Dereham

Cllr James Bensley, Chair of the Infrastructure and Development Select Committee, said: "It's clear these actions are designed to help us reduce our own carbon footprint, support Norfolk's low carbon development and green growth, and prepare for the impacts of a changing climate on our local services and communities, so I'm looking forward to considering this report with councillors next week." 

In June 2023, Norfolk County Council launched its climate strategy setting out how the council will address its own carbon footprint and its role in supporting Norfolk's transition to become a greener and more resilient county. In October 2023 the first set of actions to achieve the aims of the strategy were agreed - and committee members will now be reviewing the third set of practical actions set to help make the low carbon vision a reality. 

The Infrastructure and Development Select Committee meets at 10am on Wednesday, 13 March, to discuss the reports. The actions will be considered by the committee, before they go to Cabinet for approval in May. Watch the 13 March meeting, live or afterwards, and read the reports.

Further information 

The council's ambition and comprehensive approach to climate change has been recognised in the national 2023 Council Climate Action Scorecards, where Norfolk County Council was independently ranked second among the UK county councils for its climate action related initiatives. View more information about Council Climate Scorecards.

Norfolk's climate policy, which has been born from the successful environment policy which councillors agreed in 2019, was endorsed by Cabinet on 4 March. The policy maintains the focus of acting now on climate change, restates the council's countywide commitment to climate action, and aligns that action with the UK's 2050 net zero target and the trajectory set out in the national carbon budgets. The policy will now be considered by all county councillors at the Full Council meeting on 26 March.